About a dozen volunteers spent this past Saturday preparing to install solar panels on the new Nansen Ski Club warming hut.

The panels are scheduled to go up in a few weeks and the hut should be ready for skiers to use this December.

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The effort is a long-time dream of the club which has been around for a little while.

Founded in 1872, it is the oldest continually operating ski club in the United States.

About $60,000 has been raised for the project, so far, but it has been the community effort which has made this project a reality.

Tracy Rexford said two officials from Revision Energy worked with volunteers this weekend to prepare to secure the solar array on the hut.

She said more work is planned so that the club can have a grand opening in December.

This is a place you can cross country and backcountry ski with a wonderful view of the Presidential Range of the White Mountains. The hut is situated at the trail head for the 16-kilometer groomed trail system which is on the property of Milan Hill State Park.

"Thanks to the dedication of volunteers, the Division of Parks and Recreation staff and generous donations from Caron Building Supply, White Mountain Lumber, Capital Alarms, Revision Energy, the New Hampshire Department of Parks and Recreation and Romik Developers, the Neil and Louise Tillotson Fund, Coos Economic Development Corporation, the Kiwanis Club of Berlin, Androscoggin Valley Hospital, the New England Ski Museum, BAREI and many individuals, the Nansen Ski Club is nearing its lofty goal of building a new home," its Facebook page reads.

In addition to offering a warm and beautiful space for daily use and our numerous events, the warming hut will house the club’s lender ski collection. Members can borrow a complete set of ski gear for the day or season at no additional cost.

"For nearly 150 years the Club has supported the health and well being of residents in the greater Berlin, New Hampshire area by promoting and providing access to high quality and affordable winter recreation," it reads.

The new hut comes after the club was forced to find a new home 10 years ago.

The land it leased and the trails it had developed was sold in 2006 and the future of the club was uncertain.

The state of offered the group a home at Milan Hill State Park and the trails are being used by many visitors throughout the year.